My affection for beautiful crystals has existed since I was a little girl. I recall being around the age of five, loving to collect rocks, and on one special occasion my mother gifted me a small “crystal kit“. The kit included six small crystals glued to a piece of paper, which came along with a little booklet describing the facts and value of each one.

The thought of supergluing a crystal to anything irks me now, but at the time I was just obsessed!

To this day I admire crystals, yet own just a few. I came across a gorgeous fluorite crystal today and it inspired me to do a little research on which healing crystals are called upon for diet and weight loss.

Here’s what I found:

Clear Quartz Crystal: This crystal represents physical and spiritual cleansing. Use this crystal as a strengthener and reminder to remove toxins from the body. This stone will also help you consciously make the right choices so you have an easier time ingesting the foods only capable of gifting life and energy to your body.

Agate: This energizing crystal symbolizes the strength within you. Keep this crystal in arms length if you need help uncovering your motivation to hit the gym!

Apatite: This stone has been discovered all over the world in six countries forming a hexagonal crystal system. This crystal is used in chakra healing on the sacral (navel) chakra. Since this crystal resonates with the sacral chakra, you can utilize it’s energy to cleanse your stomach and aid in the process of digestion. This crystal is also said to spike metabolism!

Tiger’s Eye: Supports physical vitality and energy. This stone is also said to help attune your mind to keep on track and stay mentally motivated.

Black Onyx: Symbol of inner strength and power.

Crystals are beautiful and powerful energetic gifts from the earth! I love admiring their energy and beauty. It is so interesting to me how several of us find such great reward in using these energy gems in healing practices. Meditate with these crystals and carry them around with you as little reminders to stay on track with your fitness goals! Enjoy. NB

Deciding whether or not to keep a fitness journal? Here are five reasons why you should consider jotting down your routines and eating habits:

1. It keeps you organized: Keeping a fitness log is one of the most brilliant things you can do if you’re trying to get in shape. Not only will it force you to sit down and reflect on your workout routines and food intake, but it will absolutely motivate and keep you focused on your goals.

2. It curbs your behaviors on a daily basis: By writing down the foods you’re eating and the activities you partake in, you will become more proactive in the decisions you make regularly.

3. You can look back and see what worked and what didn’t: By tracking your progress, you can refer to old notes and see which factors had the most profound effects on your fitness. Were you working out on the days when you felt happy and well rested? Did you tend to eat healthier or notice more strength when you ran on a daily basis? etc.

4. Helps balance sleep: When you keep a record of the hours you sleep every night you will become more conscious of assuring you get the sleep you need! Sleeping properly repairs the body, regulates metabolism and provides energy. Don’t skimp on the zZz’s.

5. Enjoy sweet victory: Congratulations! You have a new body, a new feel, and a whole fitness journal to idolize and keep as a trophy of your personal success.

So, now that you want to create a fitness journal…how do you do it?

Simple. Do what works for you.

Keep your thoughts written down on post-its, calendars, or be more traditional and write in an actual journal.

You could be a little tech-savvy and open up a word document on your desktop…or even blog about your fitness goals!

Yucca is a root vegetable which grows naturally in Southwestern United States and South America.

This unique veggie can be compared to having the same consistency of a potato, yet blander in flavor. Aside from being a staple in several South American dishes, cooked yucca holds health benefits which trace back to the Native Americans.

Not only are there claims of yucca healing arthritis symptoms, but this root vegetable contains resveratrol which prevents blood vessel damage. Another powerful healing property of the yucca is it’s saponin content. Saponin particles attach to cholesterol and prevent the body from absorbing it. Incorporate yucca into your diet if you consume foods high in cholesterol!

The yucca plant actually develops beautiful edible flowers which are high in thiamine and some b vitamins. Check out this quick cooking demonstration:

You should also note the flour produced from the root, is gluten-free!

Step out of your comfort zone and enjoy this yummy earth food! You can serve yucca instead of bread, or even make yucca fries. Have fun! NB

After taking my first Bikram (hot) yoga class, I wanted to do a little more research on the different types of yoga. This is a simple yet informative blog posted by yogaposition.wordpress.com– Check it out!

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I moved back up to Lewiston a few weeks ago to start research for my senior thesis in geology. Geology theses are kind of unique; it’s mandatory that you take a full year to complete your work, and students usually begin their research well before the start of the academic session. This will be my first summer spent in Maine, and I’ve got big plans. Not in Maine this summer? Fear not! I plan on carefully documenting my Vacationland escapades. Here’s a preview:

A day trip to the marine lab on the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire:

There will be lots of cooking:

And sunsets:

And…coloring?

Hey, if a waiter at Flatbread Pizza handed YOU crayons while you were waiting for your meal to come out, would you really pass up the opportunity? (This is Ellis the educated elephant, in case you were wondering…